Camping near Amesbury Town occupies the northeastern corner of Massachusetts where temperatures range from 70-85°F in summer months with higher humidity near water features. Most sites close seasonally from late October through April due to harsh New England winters, with overnight temperatures often dropping below 50°F even in September. The coastal and riverside terrain creates varied camping environments within a 30-mile radius.
What to do
Swimming and beach access: 10-25 miles from Amesbury. Winter Island Park in Salem offers oceanfront sites with swimming beaches and tidepools. "The beach is interesting with some tide pools as well as sand and warm water. Life guards were paying attention," notes Lisa M. about the facilities.
Mountain biking and hiking trails: 25 miles from town. Bear Brook State Park Campground provides extensive trail networks for bikers and hikers. "We camped here to check out the mountain bike trails in the park and weren't disappointed on either count. The campground is nice and spacious, well kept and the staff is friendly," reports Eammon C. The park contains over 10,000 acres of forest preserve with multiple interconnected trail systems.
Golf and fishing: 15 miles southwest. Hidden Valley RV and Golf Park combines camping with a golf course and fishing pond. "Nice RV campground with alot of seasonal residents. Plenty of tent sites. On site general store with grill. Fishing and swimming on property along with a club house," explains Shawn C. The property spans 1,300 acres with a 9 or 18-hole course and two swimming beaches.
What campers like
Waterfront sites with boating access: 20 miles from Amesbury. Pawtuckaway State Park Campground offers lake access for canoes and kayaks. "The sites on the water book up quickly but they're perfect for fishing and boating. Also, the view!" shares J L. Sites are distributed across three islands with many directly on the water.
Clean, well-maintained facilities: 10-15 miles from town. Sea Coast Camping and RV Resort (formerly Shel-Al) maintains exceptionally clean amenities. "This is one of the cleanest, most meticulously maintained campground we have been to. So quiet and peaceful as well. Wifi service was excellent," states Rebecca S. The campground offers modern laundry facilities with brand new equipment costing $3.25-$4.25 for washers and $2 for 45 minutes of drying.
Entertainment options on weekends: 8 miles from Amesbury. Winding River Campground schedules regular activities for guests. "We had a great time here camping with our kids and grandkids. River is not much to look at but the pool was great and there were great events like foam parties, DJ at the pool, pancake breakfast and live music to name a few," says Lisa H. The campground maintains both a swimming pool and playground with scheduled weekend entertainment.
What you should know
Seasonal operations limit availability: May-October. Most campgrounds close entirely after Columbus Day weekend. "We went in early May, when it was still a bit cold at night (in the low 40s) and not many people were around," shares Kris M. about Bear Brook State Park, noting temperatures can drop unexpectedly even in spring.
Beach campgrounds draw day-use crowds: Peak summer weekends. Winter Island Park serves as both campground and public beach. "Being so close to the beach had its pros and cons. The pros were the great view, easy put in for our kayaks, and convenience for fishing and trail walking. The cons were the noise during the day from the beachgoers," explains Cynthia K. Wildlife drawn to food left by beachgoers can create challenges for campers.
Site privacy varies significantly within each campground. The Pines Camping Area features varying site layouts. "This camp ground was great for my family and doggie. Everyone we encountered was friendly. We did a camp site with not power. My son and I loved watching the baby field mice play in the marsh land," reports Heather B., though she notes mosquitoes were problematic in marshy areas.
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Located centrally in most campgrounds. Cape Ann Camp Site offers family-friendly amenities and beach proximity. "Cape Ann Campground is located close to Gloucester and Rockport. The campground is clean and quiet with beautiful tent sites," states Della S. The campground sits approximately 25 miles from Amesbury with nearby beaches within walking distance.
Campground entertainment schedules: Request in advance. Tuxbury Pond RV Campground hosts regular family activities. "Beautiful campground, clean facilities, decently priced. The pool, playground, bathrooms, and basketball court were all open and well maintained. We really enjoyed our stay!" shares Kristen L. The campground maintains multiple recreation areas for children.
Wildlife viewing opportunities: Best early morning or dusk. Pawtuckaway State Park Campground offers nature observation opportunities. "The next day I bought uncooked Quaker Oats and some grapes that I cut in quarters for them, after that visit I realized that they would never leave so we became less generous. Eventually, they realized we were on to them," recounts Ellen C. about ducks that regularly visited their campsite.
Tips from RVers
Hookup accessibility varies by site: Call ahead for specifications. Seasonal RV sites differ from transient spaces at most campgrounds. "Great employees, clean reliable power. No issues great spread out sites," notes Zachary W. about Wakeda Campground, which maintains consistent power even during peak usage.
Urban access for RVs: Closest to Boston area. Winter Island Park provides RV sites near metropolitan areas. "We spent two nights at this campground- the closest camping to Boston. The campground is right on the ocean with incredible harbor views. It was an easy bike ride to the Salem Ferry to get access into Boston for the day," explains Rae M. about the urban-adjacent camping option.
